The return of the NHL season means the return of the waiver wire! TSN’s Bob McKenzie, as he always does, has today’s news on that front. After the jump, a look at the ten most interesting available players.

1. Patrick Maroon. Despite having just two NHL games under his belt, Maroon is one of the most interesting players on the list. The 6’4”, 225 pound power forward recorded 32 goals, 74 points and 120 penalty minutes in 75 games last year, and has 11 goals and 98 PIM in 34 games to start 2012-13. His size is great, his numbers are great, and his aggression level is great; the knock is his skating (not good) and his age (he turns 25 in April). Conditioning issues were a problem in the past but he has reportedly overcome them. Former NHL coach Trent Yawney and future NHL coach Jon Cooper both raved about him in a December 28 article.

2. Steve MacIntyre. A veteran of 90 NHL games and no fewer than seven leagues since graduating junior, Steve MacIntyre’s playing style is summed up in his stats line: 90GP, four points, 163 penalty minutes. He’s as tough as they come and fits the bill for any team looking for an enforcer to play three minutes per night, once every three games or so.

3. Nick Drazenovic. Drazenovic is a little long in the tooth to be considered a legitimate prospect (he turns 26 tomorrow) but he’s been a pretty good AHL scorer for the last two seasons. Drazenovic played three games with St. Louis in 2010-11, and since then has been a point-per-game guy in the minors. He managed the feat last year despite being limited to 41 games with concussion and knee injuries. He has 30 points in 35 games this year in a lockout-strengthened AHL. He is reputedly a good skater but in the past has been knocked for having a middling physical game.

4. Ryan Russell. The twin brother of St. Louis Blues defenceman Kris Russell, Ryan Russell spent 41 games in the NHL last season with Columbus. The defensive forward had an underwhelming stats line – he picked up just two points in 41 games – but he did solid work on the other side of the puck, posting a minus-7 on a terrible Columbus team despite being leaned on as a defensive zone specialist. Despite his good work in that department, his offensive track record in both the minors and the majors makes it difficult to imagine him as an NHL’er.

5. Nate Guenin. Guenin has the distinction of being the best defenceman on the waiver wire today. He is a primarily defensive defender who earned a 15-game look one year ago and has filled the reserve role for four different NHL teams now. He has decent size (6’2”, 210 pounds), a right-handed shot and plays a rough and tumble style of game. He would be a solid number eight defenceman for a number of different teams.

6. Cody Bass. A utility forward who has skated in 48 regular season NHL games, Bass adds size (6’1”, 213 pounds) and energy to the lineup. In 201 AHL games he’s managed 53 points and 378 penalty minutes. Aside from the fact that aside from his physical game he’s a sub-NHL player, Bass hasn’t played in the minors since suffering an injury in late October.

7. Cedrick Desjardins. A now 27-year old goaltender, Desjardins has had a solid minor-league career. He posted the best save percentage (0.932) in the AHL in 2011-12, was an AHL second-team all-star in 2009-10, and over a 163-game AHL career has managed an average save percentage of 0.917. He’s a good goalie, and a very capable third-stringer. If he’d had a good start to the season he might be worth a flyer for a team needing a backup, but he’s managed just a 0.898 save percentage with a lousy Hamilton team to start the year.

8. David Leggio. Another third-string goalie, Leggio is actually having the best season of the puck-stoppers on waivers today. He has a 0.913 save percentage through 30 games with Buffalo’s AHL affiliate in Rochester, and this marks the third consecutive year he’s been a solid minor-league goaltender.

9. Ben Maxwell. Maxwell has played the role of ‘tweener the last few years, most recently in Winnipeg. He’s appeared in 47 NHL contests since 2008. He has decent size (6’1”, 195 pounds), plays a relatively physical game without taking a lot of penalties, and has been a capable auxiliary socorer for years in the minors. He’s had a rough start to this season – he has just two goals and 13 points in 37 games, along with a minus-13 rating in the AHL.

10. Jordan Hendry. The undrafted defenceman played 144 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks in the late 00’s, including 15 playoff games with the team when it won the Stanley Cup in 2010. The undersized (6’, 197 pounds) rearguard split 2011-12 between Switzerland and the AHL, and has four points in 29 games with Norfolk in the latter league to start the season. He’s a reserve defenceman that should clear waivers easily.

Bonus. Matt Smaby. A 122-game NHL’er (all of them with Tampa Bay), Smaby now plays in the Ducks’ organization. The 6’5” rearguard used to be a player of interest, but his career has been heavily impacted by a series of injuries, and that’s been the case this season as well. He played three games before suffering a leg injury that knocked him out for a month, came back and played three more games before sitting for two months. He’s playing now, but quite clearly isn’t 100%; he’s been a minus-4 over four games since coming back and now sits minus-8 in the seven games he’s played since first being hurt back in October.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

Hordichuk and Eager were minor disappointments last year and Maroon has an offensive aspect to his game that neither of the others have and if he learns to get his legs under him, watch out...

Guenin would likely be an upgrade on Peckham and in any event, we need someone to replace Sutton's minutes, so pick him up...

As for McIntyre, he seemed like a good Oiler but having him on your 23 man roster is a waste of space unless you are willing to play him almost every night but he just doesn't have the tools to play defensive hockey on a third or fourth line... I'd rather build team toughness by adding Harti (from the Barons) to the lineup and reading Hordichuk and Eager the riot act before the season starts...

Hordichuk scores an average of a goal a year for the last three years, what are you talking about he can skate and play the game of hockey?

I am glad your so impressed with Hordichuk's hockey skills maybe you can be his agent and get him a raise. From where I sit all I see is two enforcers one who is the best at it, and one who loses more than he wins.

For what Hordichuck brings and i luv the guy for what he does, do
you really lose alot picking up Smack and letting hordy go ?

Smack demands instant attention when he steps on the ice, albeit
for 2 minutes a game. Do not f--k with the kids. Hordy does not have that
scare factor. But its a roster spot u may not be able to afford.

For what Hordichuck brings and i luv the guy for what he does, do
you really lose alot picking up Smack and letting hordy go ?

Smack demands instant attention when he steps on the ice, albeit
for 2 minutes a game. Do not f--k with the kids. Hordy does not have that
scare factor. But its a roster spot u may not be able to afford.

For what Hordichuck brings and i luv the guy for what he does, do
you really lose alot picking up Smack and letting hordy go ?

Smack demands instant attention when he steps on the ice, albeit
for 2 minutes a game. Do not f--k with the kids. Hordy does not have that
scare factor. But its a roster spot u may not be able to afford.

Good Point on Smack All....Tough call, i would take the chance,
You cant tell me everyone plays a little tougher hen he is on the
bench.. Sorry Hordichuk, there are many guys like you around, and very very few like Smack... what to do ???

I go with Mac all day long. You can run a shorter bench when the cluster of your group is all below 25 yrs of age. Mac is a deterrent, Hordichuk is not. Mac crushes men, Hordi confuses them. Players won't take the chance of running our stars if Mac is present and making people answer. There is too many targets on our roster as it stands to not get some protection for them. We don't need Mac to score or play any other role other then scaring the bejesus out of the opposition. A couple 5min powerplays against wont hurt anywhere near as much as losing one of our guns due to being targeted and we can't do nothing but send Hordichuk after them...

George Laroque was a pro hockey player and kept up with the game pretty well. He could play 5+ minutes a game and contribute. Without fighting he would certainly have been an AHLer or maybe even a 4th liner in the NHL. Mac would struggle to be a player on an ECHL team.

I don't like Steve MacIntyre as an option, because I don't believe enforcers really function effectively as protection.

Boston - a team with both a legitimate enforcer and a reputation for team toughness - wasn't able to protect Marc Savard from Matt Cooke.

More recent examples come from the AHL this year. Antoine Roussel - despite the fact that Colten Teubert punished everyone who did anything to the kids - ran around like an idiot, even with Teubert on the ice. Heck, Teubert turned Brett Bulmer's jaw into mush and the next time Bulmer played the Barons he showed no hesitation about hammering guys.

Two weeks ago, the Barons Erick Lizon - a legit enforcer, up from the Central League - squared off with tough guy Luke Gazdic in a fight everyone knew was coming early in the game. After Gazdic got out of the box he took a long run at Teemu Hartikainen; he was instantly fought by Alex Plante and then had to fight Lizon again later in the game.

I just don't see an enforcer - even a heavyweight - as an effective deterrent at the NHL level. Guys lose jobs if they aren't hitting people; guys from the Cooke and Torres family don't change the way they play just because the other team has a tough guy. If I thought MacIntyre would deter injuries, I'd bring him in *this instant*. But I don't think enforcers work.

JW ...off topic but a question please... Andy Sutton...he's gone for the season, on the team IR and he's already had this half of his seasons' salary flushed down the toilet...does he get any money at all on this last contract of his?

I don't like Steve MacIntyre as an option, because I don't believe enforcers really function effectively as protection.

Boston - a team with both a legitimate enforcer and a reputation for team toughness - wasn't able to protect Marc Savard from Matt Cooke.

More recent examples come from the AHL this year. Antoine Roussel - despite the fact that Colten Teubert punished everyone who did anything to the kids - ran around like an idiot, even with Teubert on the ice. Heck, Teubert turned Brett Bulmer's jaw into mush and the next time Bulmer played the Barons he showed no hesitation about hammering guys.

Two weeks ago, the Barons Erick Lizon - a legit enforcer, up from the Central League - squared off with tough guy Luke Gazdic in a fight everyone knew was coming early in the game. After Gazdic got out of the box he took a long run at Teemu Hartikainen; he was instantly fought by Alex Plante and then had to fight Lizon again later in the game.

I just don't see an enforcer - even a heavyweight - as an effective deterrent at the NHL level. Guys lose jobs if they aren't hitting people; guys from the Cooke and Torres family don't change the way they play just because the other team has a tough guy. If I thought MacIntyre would deter injuries, I'd bring him in *this instant*. But I don't think enforcers work.

If enforcers don't work why do a majority of teams carry one?

Perhaps yourself and others may not feel this way but if my actions caused Mac to punch me in the face.I would be very, very mindful of my actions.

All the talk about picking up Macintyre; a tough defenseman would be preferrable. A player who is on the ice for a duration of a game and not somebody taking up a roster spot during a condensed schedule so he can play every third game (4 minutes at best).

The Oilers need a veteran defenseman and if they were to inquire for one I'd hope they would aim for someone that deliver a hard check and a few fights.

What good is it when opposing teams take a run at the first two scoring lines, a scrum erupts, and nobody is on the ice to bail them out. I fear for two lines made up of Hemsky, Yakupov, Gagner and Hall, RNH and Hall with nobody on the back end to offer some toughness.

I tend to think inertia is a big part of it, honestly. I understand that others - including a bunch of pro hockey teams - feel differently but I don't see the case. Doesn't mean I'm right; that's just how I see it.

As for MacIntyre - if I were playing, and by some marvel the team couldn't find better hockey players than me (and this isn't possible, so you know we're talking extreme hypothetical here) than yeah, I'd do absolutely nothing that could result in me getting punched in the face by him. But that's also one of the many reasons why I pay to play hockey rather than being paid to play hockey.

In a real word you would want a couple of tough guys on the back end to protect the young guns up front. When they are on the ice guys like Eager and Hordichcuk are riding the pines like Renney did last season. I think with some coaching , Eager who thinks he's Bobby Hall and Hordichuck takes his clown suit off, can be insisted up to play a tougher role , or else see you on the waiver list.A lot of it had to do with Renney last year.

You're not paying any attention! We had SMac and guys still ran our players. It changed nothing! Boston had Thornton on the bench and Chara and Lucic ON THE ICE and Cooke still ran Savard!

"Get back to me after the next time someone runs a star and the next shoulder injury occurs." It has already happened! We are getting back to you!

Now, that said, I do think toughness has a function. I think it is useful to have a forecheck that intimidates defenceman and defenceman that intimidate forecheckers. This style of play leads to fights. I think it is good for team moral to know that someone has your back should emotions run high- I haven't played much but even I know you feel more free and confident when you're on the tougher team. Toughness is useful, but it has to be on the ice, not sitting on the bench. And it will not prevent injuries.

And, I will add, you are factually wrong about the Sedins- they are fine in the playoffs. Look at their numbers. What killed them against Boston is their reputation as divers caught up to them and they stopped getting calls. Standing their with a long-suffering look on your face while someone continually punches you in the face is tough.

The thing is the Oilers do have a spot open for an enforcer right now, and if anybody wants to argue that Hordichuk is anything other than that maybe you should watch a few shifts, or take a look at his stats.

MacIntyre is the toughest enforcer in the game by a long shot. If your looking for offence from Mac or some great work on the PP, or PK good luck it is not going to happen. Darcy Hordichuk falls into the same category. The difference is Hordichuk scores about once a year and has a negligible difference in skill level. Steve MacIntyre is not out on the ice for any more goals against than Hordichuk. In fact MacIntyre has a career -3 in Edmonton in about 60 games on teams that were well below the average for plus minus. Hordichuk was -3 last year in 43 games.

The difference between the two is one of them is the toughest guy to play hockey in a long long time, and the other is a guy that is tougher than the average NHLer, but not near the top of the enforcer heap. The guys that say MacIntyre doesn't scare anybody or deter the dirty cheap shots are likely the guys that have never been in a spot where they have to answer the bell wether that be in hockey or otherwise. I myself don't see scoring as an issue for this team there are going to be plenty of goals to come from the top three lines. Just worry about keeping the kids safe and remember Gretzky and the boys on the bus had a freak of nature tough guy like SMAC backing them up.

"The guys that say MacIntyre doesn't scare anybody or deter the dirty cheap shots are likely the guys that have never been in a spot where they have to answer the bell wether that be in hockey or otherwise." Explain it to me how we had SMAc and there was no noticable difference in cheapshots. This isn't a hunch, or an ignorant armchair player throwing out an opinion, it's just a factual account of what happened.

I think Sheldon Souray said it best when he said that when the other team has a tough guy it doesn't stop you from doing anything, but it does slow you down. When I play I never don't do or say something because I'm afraid of getting punched, but maybe I don't do it as instinctually. Does this delay translate to less injuries? The evidence says probably not.

You do have a point that the difference in SMac and Hordy's play might not be enough to justify taking the significantly less intimidating guy. I would argue we're better off without them both. I agree a tough team really helps, but you need that toughness on the ice. Look at the behaviour of Cooke, Avery, Ott, Barnaby, Tootoo (whom I like a lot)- the presence of super heavy weights doesn't deter anything. All they do is fight each other. This "take a few instigators and let your repuatation do the rest" is a myth. It just doesn't happen.

It is pretty hard to measure injuries and wether they are impacted by an enforcer or not. Even just providing the boys with the guy on the team that allows them to play bigger. Players like Peckham, Smid, and Eager who can take care of the cheap shots knowing that if an enforcer is sent over the boards that SMAC will also be sent over the boards and the outcome of that confrontation will be a check mark for the Oilers in the momentum side of the game.

I do feel over the long haul we had some good stretches with Big George Laraque, Dave Brown, and Dave Semenko in protecting our skilled players from being run.

It is much easier for me to accept the arguement you make though of not needing an enforcer at all, than it is to listen to people tell me about Darcy Hordichuk's superior hockey skills.

With so much fire power especially in the top two forward lines I don't believe that 4 lines will be rolling very often. At least one of the 4th line players should be a PK specialist.

Hordichuk scores an average of a goal a year for the last three years, what are you talking about he can skate and play the game of hockey?

I am glad your so impressed with Hordichuk's hockey skills maybe you can be his agent and get him a raise. From where I sit all I see is two enforcers one who is the best at it, and one who loses more than he wins.

Compared to Steve MacIntyre's ability to "get up and down" the ice, he is freaking Pavel Bure.

But I'm not holding Hordichuk up as some great paragon of hockey sense, just saying the guy can put in more than 45 seconds a game without seriously hurting our chances of winning.

An enforcer who can't get off the bench isn't worth the tape on his stick.

Enforcers are becoming useless in hockey now. Staged fights don't do anything to "protect our young guns," and with the instigator penalty and the focus on star players bein hurt or concussed, having a goon like MacIntyre go out for 2:00 minutes a game just to put you down a 5 minute major just hurts the team.

The enforcer is dead in the NHL. The enforcer is now a player like Lucic that can actually play. Eager could be a very good enforcer if he quit taking stupid penalties.

Don't forget that MacIntyre was here already and it didn't stop anyone from "taking liberties," and players still were injured . He was also a train wreck defensively, put himself out of position his entire 2 minutes a game, and his offensive game, skills and skating were worse than his defense.

Maroon is the only player of intrest on this list for the Oilers. I think he would be an upgrade for Eager.

Love to have Maroon, need his size, but he has problems skating that is why those guys play in the AHL. As far as Eager, he doesnt have the same offencive abilities but that guy can skate, wone ot eh top in the league.

If you can score, fight, hit and be a power forward, but you cant skate, those guys stay in the minors.

We should still take a shot at him, if he doesnt work put him back on wavers and if he slipps through he would be awesome on the Barons who need size as well